Sony to move lithium battery construction out of Japan

Sony has confirmed today that it is looking to move domestic construction of lithium ion batteries out of Japan by March 2014.

The company is hoping to overcome a yen that is at its strongest price since World War II.

Moving the construction to China and Singapore will allow the company to turn the current factories into research facilities. 500 workers will be asked to relocate or retire voluntarily. Everyone else will likely have to begin looking for work.

After years of being the dominant lithium ion battery producers, the Japanese have fallen behind South Korean rivals like Samsung.

The batteries are used in phones, tablets, laptops, electric cars and more.